After ill-timed snowstorm and roof collapse, Black Mountain bookstore bounces back

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (WLOS) — It's a big day for a local bookstore.

Sassafras on Sutton saw its first customers Saturday after heavy snow in December caused the roof to collapse, shutting down the business.

We were there for what the owners are calling a "gentle" opening.

"My son leapt out, and he was like, "'They're open, they're open!'" said visitor Molly Keener.

The downtown Black Mountain bookstore is back open for the first time since a December snowstorm brought heavy snow and a pile of problems leading to a partially collapsed roof.

"It's devastating," said co-owner Cole Brumer. "Certainly (December) is a very very busy time. A lot of small businesses count on that for income, and we are no exception to that. And it's something you can't anticipate."

But Blumer says it's a new day at the store as his crew works to put everything back into place, and see the smiling faces, of all ages, of those who stop by.

The independent bookstore even has a new website.

"Being closed for any length of time for a small business is really difficult, but being closed when it wasn't a planned closure, right?" Molly Keener said. "When you weren't planning for a renovation is really difficult, and so I really wanted to be able to support them."

"It reaffirms the fact that that it's a great town," Blumer said. "Reaffirms the fact that the town likes us being here, likes what we offer. And we like being a part of it. Really, Black Mountain has a great vibe, and Sassafras on Sutton, we believe, kind of fits right into that."

The only thing left is to celebrate, and do it in style at a later grand opening event.

"We're excited about March 15," Blumer said. "We're kind of calling it 'Blow the Roof Off' to reopen, kind of make a play off of words of what happened upstairs."

Packing the positivity--and returning the love this community has shown to them.